Last night’s encounter with Marcus replayed itself in her head as she went through her morning routine. There were reasons, both for and against, that she should not count on the legality of the marriage. Perhaps if she listed them, he would see that she was right. That might be a good occupation during tea time.
Emerging from her room fifteen minutes later, she discovered that it was Thursday and she had forgotten. They always rode before breakfast on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
“How about if we ride after breakfast instead?” she promised the disappointed children.
“But Papa and Uncle Marcus always ride before breakfast,” Michael protested.
Corinna pondered this for a moment. The reason the children loved riding so early in the morning was because of the possibility that they might come across their parents or uncle while out.
“Suppose I send a note down to your uncle and ask that he ride with us after breakfast, even if he has already ridden this morning? I’m sure he’ll be glad to join us.”
Yesterday she would not have dared to make such a bold suggestion, but after last night she had a feeling Marcus would not mind the request. And it would give her the chance to ensure he wasn’t about to tell the duke and duchess about her.
The children were skeptical. “Do you think so?” Caroline asked.
“Yes, I think he would,” she replied confidently. “I’ll write him a note right now while Penny goes for your breakfast.”
By the time Penny had returned with the breakfast tray, she had written a note to Marcus requesting that he accompany her and the twins on an after-breakfast ride. As breakfast progressed and no response arrived, she wondered if she hadn’t been too sure of herself. Perhaps Penny hadn’t been able to find him.
They finished breakfast and she had retreated to her room to change when she heard a commotion out in the large room. When she emerged, it was to find Marcus and his brother sitting on the floor with the children. They were lining up Michael’s toy soldiers, but Caroline was impatient. “When do I get to shoot?”
“Soon, poppet,” her father responded patiently.
Her eyes went unerringly to Marcus as he lounged beside Michael, watching the boy set his soldiers in formation. His dark hair was windblown, the shirt under his riding jacket open at the neck exposing the tanned column of his throat. She flexed her fingers as she remembered the feel of the corded muscle underneath her hand the night before.
As if he realized he was being watched, he looked up suddenly and their eyes met. The blatant appreciation in his eyes warmed her and she nearly stepped toward him. She was stopped by the duke’s deep voice, and turned toward him instead.
“Ah, Miss Camden, my wife requests that you join her in the cliff parlor.”
“Of course,” she replied automatically, her eyes swiveling to Marcus.
His eyebrows raised in response. It was the first time he’d heard the name she was using and she knew there would be more questions forthcoming. She had told him last night that she’d run away, hadn’t she? Surely he would understand why she wasn’t using her own name.
“Marcus and I will take these two scamps riding,” the duke continued.
A silent sigh escaped. She’d just finished changing. As she turned to go back and change her clothes again, she could feel Marcus’s eyes on her back.
As she unpinned Douglas’s watch from the inside of her riding jacket and re-pinned it to the inside of her dress, she was warmed by the thought that Marcus had written to ask if she’d wanted it, and the other small items he had. Now that she had it, it would become an even more cherished possession than the items she left Houghton Hall with. Even the thought that she might never see her mother’s jewelry again paled beside the joy of having Douglas’s possessions. If she were honest with herself, she’d known she might have to sell the jewelry to survive, but she would never part with Douglas’s watch.
Corinna entered the parlor overlooking the sea to find the duchess there at the small secretary that stood in one of the corners. She wondered at the summons, but could think of nothing untoward that might have happened recently. Of course, the duchess had been blatantly matchmaking last night. Perhaps she wanted to know if her efforts worked. Corinna smiled to herself. If only the duchess knew.
The duchess rose from the small desk as Corinna entered the room. Dressed in a rose pink-and-white-striped morning gown, Corinna thought she still looked like a debutante in her first season. She was slim despite three children, and her face was unlined. Only her eyes, which shone with a slightly jaded intelligence, corroborated the fact that she was no longer an innocent.
“Oh, Miss Camden, I’m glad Brand found you,” she said now. “Come and sit.” Once they were seated, she came right to the point. “I was hoping to put this off a bit longer, but I cannot. Miss Kendall will be returning to us sometime within the next few days. I received a letter from her a week ago, so I expect to see her any day now.” The blue eyes watched her closely for a moment, then she continued, “I hope this news doesn’t upset you too much. I’ve noticed how much you have enjoyed the twins and, because I find it offensive to just throw someone out—even though you would not be without funds—I would invite you to stay as our guest and return to London with us. Then, if you wish, you may seek another position.”
Corinna knew the reference was a given. She had provided excellent service, but to remain at St. Ayers was a boon. Perhaps she and Marcus could work things through if she remained. The duke and duchess were adequate chaperones and she would not have to leave the children so abruptly.
“I don’t know what to say,” she told the duchess. “You have been so very generous and kind to me. I can never repay it.”
“You have been wonderful with the twins. In fact, had Miss Kendall not returned, I would have been pleased to provide you with a permanent position. I just did not wish to merely send you off to London knowing that you had no place to go and would need to find employment immediately. I suspect it would be daunting, to say the least.” She smiled and Corinna thought she looked like Caroline when she was about to do something mischievous. “Of course, after what Amanda told me, I suppose I could have sent you to Brand’s sister, Eliza, who is the Countess of Barrington, and requested her assistance. You do resemble a number of people in her family, most especially her cousin, Letty.”
“I suppose it’s possible since I have no idea who my mother’s family is,” Corinna replied with an answering smile. “But I couldn’t possibly presume upon a stranger…”
The duchess chuckled. “Well, as to that, she actually wouldn’t be a stranger since she is due to arrive here sometime in the next week as well.”
“I see.” Corinna didn’t miss the satisfied expression on the duchess’s face.
“Wonderful. Now that we have that settled, I feel better about it all.”
Corinna was merely relieved the subject of Marcus hadn’t come up.
For the next half hour, she and the duchess discussed the twins. It was an easy subject and before long the patter of running feet could be heard, heralding the return of the riders. Moments later the door burst open and both children came running in.
“Mama! Guess what?” Caroline was the first to reach the duchess. “Papa let me ride his horse. It was a long ways up.”
“Did he now? And were you frightened?”
“Of course not,” Caroline answered.
“You were too!” Michael, hot on his sister’s heels, also headed straight for their mother. “She was so scared, she wouldn’t look down,” he teased.
“I was not. Papa said not to look down.”
“Children,” the duchess said patiently, “it doesn’t matter if you were afraid at first, but if you didn’t fall off, then you accomplished something. And, you, Michael? Did you get a chance to ride too?”
Michael sent his sister a smug smile. “I’ve ridden Papa’s horse before, but Uncle Marcus let me ride his while she was on Papa’s horse. It was fun.”
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“Very good. Now,” she switched the subject, “Miss Camden and I have been discussing a few things. Miss Kendall will be returning soon—”
“But I don’t want Corrie to go away,” Caroline cried. She rushed over to Corinna and threw her arms around her.
Touched by the little girl’s support, Corinna hugged her too. Over her head, she noted the entrance of the duke and Marcus. Her heart did a little flip-flop when Marcus grinned at her.
“Then you’ll be glad to know that she has agreed to stay on as our guest until we go back to London.”
After the previous evening, it should not have surprised Marcus that Corinna hadn’t told Felicia about them, even if it meant she would have had to leave. He was, therefore, thankful for Felicia’s generous nature that provided the excuse to keep Corinna at St. Ayers until the end of the month. Much could happen in a month.
He’d spent a sleepless night trying to think through arguments as to why Corinna should be acknowledged as his wife. First and foremost was the protection the title Countess St. Ayers would afford her.
A few moments later, he watched Corinna leave with the children, then turned back to Brand and Felicia. “That was generous of you to allow her to stay,” he told Felicia.
“I know,” she replied. “But I like her, and so do the children. I also know she has no one to go back to in London, and I suspect she’s not really who she says she is.”
Marcus bit his tongue on the automatic defense that rose to his lips. He moved to the settee Corinna had recently vacated and sat. “What makes you think that?” It seemed a logical question. One he hoped he’d voiced casually enough not to raise her suspicions.
“She came to us because she was recommended by the headmistress of the young ladies academy I attended. I am well aware of the status of the families that send their daughters there, yet I know of no family among the ton with the name Camden.”
“Yet you hired her anyway.”
“Yes, for two reasons. One, she came highly recommended by Miss Ridley, and because at the time I simply needed someone.” She waved her hand at him, cutting off further questions. “But she has been wonderful with the children. They both love her. Even Tina’s children fell in love with her by the time we left Thane Park. I will be happy to give her a glowing reference, for all the good it will do her.”
“What do you mean by that?” Marcus found himself on the defensive again. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly and forced himself to relax.
Felicia looked up at Brand, who lounged in the doorway, leaning against the frame. A soft smile belied the seriousness of her words. “I’m sure you’ve noticed how lovely she is. I’m afraid to say it, but very few women in the ton are secure enough in their husband’s affections to allow someone so young and pretty into their household. And it would be even worse if there is an older son also in the house. One shudders to think what she might be subjected to.”
She rose from the couch and joined Brand in the doorway. “When Eliza gets here, I will ask if she and Trent will sponsor her for a season.”
“Why?” The question came out too sharp and he wondered if he’d given away his interest after all. “What makes you think Corrie wants a season?”
“Nothing really. But I’ll ask her.”
Brand interrupted his next question. “You should know by now that Felicia is nothing if not persistent.”
He had to bite his tongue not to blurt out that Corinna was already his wife. She didn’t need a season. They needed to have that talk. Soon. Or he’d end up eating his own tongue.
He moved to the window after they left. Staring out over the whitecaps below, he tried to marshal his thoughts. It had occurred to him that Corinna might be subject to unwanted advances in another household. After all, he’d castigated himself over that very thing the morning he’d maneuvered her into walking in the garden with him.
Perhaps he ought to just let her be. She obviously wanted to be left alone. But he couldn’t. He’d made a promise to Douglas to care for her. On Douglas’s grave, he’d sworn to see that she wanted for nothing.
Another thought brought him up short. Why was she working for a living? Her father couldn’t possibly have left her destitute. Why had she run away? When? And what happened to the letter he sent to Houghton Hall? Why had she never received it?
Suddenly there were more questions regarding the mystery that was Corinna than there were answers. Questions he planned to get to the bottom of—as soon as he convinced her she was his wife.
The breeze coming off the water was crisp today. Brushing the ribbons of her bonnet away from her face, she called to the children to remind them to watch their steps. Although the cove beneath the house was sheltered, the wind was blowing directly at them this afternoon. The large rock she normally sat on while the children explored was too exposed, so she sat on the sand beside it. It partially blocked the wind, giving her respite from the salty tang and cool bite in the air while allowing the sun to warm her as she flipped through the book Michael found for her. Sitting where she was also didn’t allow her to see who might approach until they were nearly on top of her.
It was Caroline who warned her of Marcus’s approach.
“Uncle Marcus,” the little girl cried, racing down the beach. In bare feet, she splashed through the edge of the water.
“Have you found anything fun?” he called.
“No,” Caroline replied as she reached him. “Even the birds haven’t come to visit today.”
Corinna smiled at the pout in Caroline’s voice. She stood. “Then perhaps we ought to return to the house.”
“Not yet,” Caroline cried. Then she turned and sped off down the beach toward her brother.
Marcus chuckled as he looked down at her. The wind stole her breath momentarily as she took in his smile. “That was clever.”
“Not really,” she replied as she brushed sand from her dress. “Caroline likes to complain, but she and Michael love this place. They are hoping that you will invite them down often now that you’ve returned.” Satisfied she’d dusted most of the sand from her skirts, she followed his gaze to the children.
“Would you like that?” he asked.
“I don’t think I should have much of a say.”
Marcus continued to watch the children for a moment longer, before turning to look down at her again. “And why not? As my countess, you would definitely have a say.”
Her eyes widened and she glanced away at the children before looking up at him again. “Your countess? I’m not—”
“Of course you are,” he insisted. “I made a promise and I do not go back on my word.”
Her eyes narrowed and she put her hands on her hips. “When did you become an earl?”
Ah. So that was it. She hadn’t known about the title.
“According to Brand, about three years ago. But he never bothered to tell me until I arrived here.”
“Truly?”
He nodded. She looked away, down the beach toward the children for a few moments, then turned back to him with a sigh.
“Why didn’t you say something last night?”
“Would it have mattered?”
She leaned against the rock and tilted her head back to look at him. The brim of her hat shadowed her eyes, but the way she continued to turn the small book she held over and over in her hands gave away her nervousness.
“I don’t know,” she finally replied. “Does it matter to you?”
“It would have meant more three years ago if it could have helped you.” She didn’t respond to the obvious question behind his statement. “Why didn’t you have a season?”
She turned away. “Gregory said I didn’t need one. And Ellen refused to chaperone me. There was no one else.” She clutched the leather-bound volume to her chest. “Besides, poor relations don’t need seasons because no one will want a dowerless wife.”
Fury roared through him at the pain in her voice. He very much doubted her father had left her do
werless. It was more likely Gregory hadn’t wanted to pay it. As for Ellen, she’d hated Corinna and her mother since before she and Gregory wed. He didn’t doubt Ellen made Corinna’s life hell at Houghton Hall.
“Why did you run away?”
“Does it matter?” she asked. “Gregory and Ellen were glad to be rid of me. I suspect I did them a favor.”
Marcus doubted it. If Gregory hadn’t wanted to pay a dowry for her, and he went so far as to tell people she’d died, he was probably now worried she’d surface and demand her inheritance. Would Gregory have gone so far as to try and kill her?
“Did it never occur to you that Gregory lied to you? That your father might have left you a dowry?” She spun around to face him again, her spine rigid. “Or that, at least, your mother might have left you something?”
“Of course, it did. I asked, but was told my mother didn’t leave a will and my father’s will was silent. I was then told that, as my guardian, Gregory would see that I was taken care of.” The simmering frustration in her voice told him how much it hurt to think her parents had done nothing to ensure her well-being. “I even asked Ellen for my mother’s jewels. She just laughed at me.”
For a few moments there was only the sound of the ocean between them, then he said in a soft voice, “Gregory was never your guardian, Corinna.”
“What do you mean by that? Of course he was. The will said—”
“Did you ever see it? The will?”
She blinked. “No. Of course not. I was only seventeen. I was only told—” She stopped suddenly and put a hand to her mouth. “Oh no. No.” Sagging back against the rock, she continued to stare at him as tears welled.
He reached out and brushed a tear away. The skin beneath his finger was smooth and warm. “Gregory was never your guardian,” he repeated. “Your parents died before Douglas, and I know your father named Douglas as your guardian.”
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